Ammo matters

[GimpyPaw]

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Went to the range yesterday with a new scope on my target AR15. Started at 50 yds to make sure I was on paper, then moved to 100 yds. Air was crisp and cold, with heat distortion building up quickly. I had to limit groups to 5 shots.

Center group was some 73 gn handloads. Nothing high precision, just LC brass, win 760, and Hornady 73 gn ELD run through a Dillon 750 progressive. 1st shot hit center and 3 3/4” high. Adjusted and put the next 4 on center. One shot I pulled, called it before I saw where it hit. Still a decent group.

Upper left and lower left are Berger 73gn otm factory loads. Top measures 5/16”, lower at 1/4”.

Upper and lower right are both Hornady 77 gn TAP factory loads. Honestly it’s not easy to get this rifle to make shitty groups like that, but Hornady factory loads always seem to be up to the task.

Same rifle, same shooter, yet one factory load gives .25 moa groups and the other rocks a 1.75 moa. Picking the right load matters a lot.

[GimpyPaw]

The offending rifle ….

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[Sanders]

Nice! I'm happy if I get a 3" group at 100 yards with anything.

[ColonelKorn]

Right load, twist, etc. I guess harmonics too....

[GimpyPaw]

Nice! What do you think about the clamor about a 36 yard zero instead of 100 yards?

Sounds like a 200 yd zero

scoped rifle, line of sight 1.7” over bore, 200 yd zero, 0 mph wind speed, 73 gn eld at 2790 fps

0 yds -1.70
25 yds -0.38
34 yds -0.02 * crossing los
50 yds +0.63
75 yds +1.34
100 yds +1.75
115 to 121 +1.85 * peak height
125 yds +1.83
150 yds +1.58
175 yds +.99
200 yds 0.00 * crossing los
225 yds -1.34

So with that load at 34 yds you’re crossing line of sight, then you rise to almost 2” high at 121 yds, then line of sight again at 200 yds.

[GimpyPaw]

I know I’ve seen people talk about sighting in at 35 yards claiming that puts them “dead on” at 200, but I am far too OCD to use that method. Different loads, even in the same bullet weight, will group in different spots. I’m not satisfied until I’ve found what the rifle likes, I’ve got chrono readings at different elevations, and I’ve plotted the ballistic paths.

[GimpyPaw]

Oh, I’ve been itching to do a coyote hunt. Hope to do one here in a few weeks. Problem is most of the yotes are near the farms, so finding public land where they call in isn’t easy.

Nice work on those dogs.

[GimpyPaw]

Yea, around here I’ve heard them called Coydogs or just hybrids. That settles it, I’m going hunting for some yotes.

[Sanders]

We brought home an 8 month old pup from the pound last week that my wife just adores. It looks like half Australian cattle dog and half coyote. They say she was taken in as a stray last August. She has the markings of a cattle dog, but has the fur and movements like a coyote. Very smart, though. Takes to training like a fish to water. My mom and dad had one that was half German Shepard. It was a really good dog. Again, GSD markings, but coyote body and mannerisms.

Not that I'd go out and start a coydog breeding program. The ferals are better off dead than anything else.

[GimpyPaw]

This is my latest trip to the range. All 5 shot groups at 100 yds with the Berger 73 gn OTM.